Tax guide 2020 - Storyblok

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A C C O U N TA N C Y | P L A N N I N G | A DV I C E

      The essential summary of tax rates and legislation

     Tax guide
     2020

                                                           in brief
                                                           ifac set out the tax regulations

                                                           Agri Business in the coming year.
                                                           February 2020

ifac.ie
our branches

                             Leinster                     Munster
                             Carlow, Co. Carlow           Bandon, Co. Cork
                             Bluebell, Dublin 12          Blarney, Co. Cork
                             Drogheda, Co. Louth          Cahir, Co. Tipperary
                             Dublin 2                     Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
                             Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford     Ennis, Co. Clare
                             Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny       Limerick City
                             Kilkenny SME, Co. Kilkenny   Mallow, Co. Cork
                             Lucan, Co. Dublin            Mogeely, Co. Cork
                             Mullingar, Co. Westmeath     Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
                             Portlaoise, Co. Laois        Templemore, Co. Tipperary
                             Trim, Co. Meath              Tralee, Co. Kerry

                             Wicklow, Co. Wicklow         Connaught
                                                          Athenry, Co. Galway
                             Ulster                       Balla, Co. Mayo
                             Cavan, Co. Cavan             Collooney, Co. Sligo
                             Monaghan, Co. Monaghan       Roscommon, Co. Roscommon
                             Raphoe, Co. Donegal

              info@ifac.ie
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                                                                                                                                                                         TAX BOOKLET 2020

      CONTENTS
      INCOME TAX RATES ..................................................................3                          Approved Minimum Retirement Funds.............................................13
      Income Exemption Limits ..............................................................3                       Standard Fund Threshold (“SFT”) ...............................................13
      Tax Credits at 20%...........................................................................3                Relief on Retirement for Sportspersons ....................................13
      Job Plus Scheme.............................................................................3                 PRSA ...............................................................................................14
      Earned Income Credit.....................................................................3                    Self-Administered Pension Funds .............................................14
      Relief for Long Term Unemployed Starting a Business.............3                                             Lump Sum Payments on Redundancy/Retirement..................14
      Residence, Ordinary Residence and Domicile ............................4                                      Lump-Sum Payment to Employees on Company Restructuring.....14
      Split Year Treatment........................................................................4                 Retraining Exemption ...................................................................14
      Cross Border Workers....................................................................4                     Reporting Requirement................................................................14
      Remittance Basis For non-domiciled individuals .......................4
      Income ..............................................................................................4        EMPLOYEE SHARE SCHEMES ...............................................15
      SARP .................................................................................................4       Share awards.................................................................................15
      Foreign Earnings Deduction (“FED”) ............................................5                              Share Options ................................................................................15
      D/E/F.................................................................................................5       KEEP ...............................................................................................15
      Seafarer Allowance .........................................................................6                 Share Purchase Schemes............................................................15
      Fisher Tax Credit..............................................................................6              Profit Sharing Schemes................................................................15
      Tax Exemptions................................................................................6               Save As You Earn Scheme (SAYE) ...............................................15
      Maternity Benefit.............................................................................6               Restricted Shares..........................................................................16
      Child minding relief.........................................................................6                Returns:..........................................................................................16
      Mortgage Interest Relief ................................................................6
      Home Renovation Incentive (“HRI”) ..............................................7                             BENEFIT IN KIND ....................................................................17
      Home Carer Credit ..........................................................................7                 Company Cars ...............................................................................17
      Carer Allowance ..............................................................................7               Company Vans ...............................................................................17
      Covenants.........................................................................................7           Electric Vehicles.............................................................................18
      Medical Insurance ..........................................................................7                 Preferential Loans.........................................................................18
      Dental Insurance .............................................................................7               Accommodation ............................................................................18
      Medical Expenses............................................................................7                 Travel Passes.................................................................................18
      Permanent Health Insurance .......................................................8                           Professional Subscriptions ..........................................................18
      Third Level College Fees ................................................................8                    Other Exemptions..........................................................................18
      Training Course Fees......................................................................8                   Anti-Avoidance...............................................................................18
      Rent-a-Room Scheme ...................................................................8                       Vouchers.........................................................................................18
      Rent Relief for Private Accommodation .......................................8
      High Earner Restriction..................................................................8                    MOTOR / EXPENSES ...............................................................19
                                                                                                                    Expenses Allowance and Motor Mileage for Employees...............19
      SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS .................................9                                            Civil Service Mileage Rates .........................................................19
      Self-Assessment - Pay and File ....................................................9                          Subsistance Allowances...............................................................19
      Payment and Compliance ..............................................................9                        Travel Expenses Non-Executive Directors.................................19
      Penalties...........................................................................................9
      Joint Assessment............................................................................9                 LOCAL PROPERTY TAX............................................................20
      Pay and File Summary....................................................................9                     Peoperty Valuation Bands & LPT Ready-Reckoner .................20
      Information included in Return .....................................................9                         Exemptions ....................................................................................20
      Mandatory Reporting......................................................................9                    Key Dates........................................................................................20

      INVESTMENT INCOME............................................................10                               CORPORATION.........................................................................21
      Rented Residential Property........................................................10                         Rates...............................................................................................21
      Limited Partnerships....................................................................10                    Corporate Group Relief.................................................................21
      Standard Rate DIRT Accounts .....................................................10                           Close Companies ..........................................................................21
      DIRT Exemptions...........................................................................10                  Corporate donations to Charities and other Approved Bodies ..21
      DIRT Refund for First Time Buyers.............................................10                              R&D Credit .....................................................................................21
      Help to Buy Scheme......................................................................10                    Key Employee R&D Credit............................................................22
      Investment Undertakings.............................................................11                        Other Conditions............................................................................22
      Reporting of Deposit Interest.......................................................11                        New Company Start ups...............................................................22
      European Savings Directive .........................................................11                        Knowledge Development Box (“KDB”).......................................23
      Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme.......................11                                           Large Companies:.........................................................................23
                                                                                                                    Small Companies: ........................................................................23
      RETIREMENTS & PENSIONS .................................................12                                    New Companies ............................................................................23
      Company Pension Schemes (Employees and Directors).........12                                                  Group Companies..........................................................................23
      Level of Allowable Contributions.................................................12                           Filing ...............................................................................................23
      Self Employed Individuals ............................................................12                      Information included in CT1.........................................................23
      Employees......................................................................................12             Country by Country Reporting .....................................................23
      Entitlements on Retirement ........................................................12                         Exemption for Disposal of Shareholdings..................................23
      Other Options/Restrictions ..........................................................12                       Payment Dates for Capital Gains Tax..........................................23
      Approved Retirement Funds/

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                                                                                                                                                                          TAX BOOKLET 2020

      TAXATION OF DIVIDENDS .......................................................24                                VALUE ADDED TAX ..................................................................33
      Penalties.........................................................................................24           Registration....................................................................................33
      Mandatory Reporting....................................................................24                      Rates...............................................................................................33
      Dividend Withholding Tax (DWT)..................................................24                             Section 56.......................................................................................33
      Encashment Tax ............................................................................24                  Foreign Visitors..............................................................................33
      Shares in Lieu of Dividends (Scrip dividends) ............................24                                   Holiday Homes ..............................................................................33
      Tax on Dividends Received ...........................................................24                        Travel Agents Margin Scheme (“TAMS”)....................................33
                                                                                                                     Payment and Compliance............................................................33
      CAPITAL ALLOWANCES..........................................................25                                 Penalties.........................................................................................34
      Annual Allowance - Plant and Machinery..................................25                                     Cash Receipts ................................................................................34
      Energy efficient equipment..........................................................25                         Margin Scheme - Second Hand Motor Vehicles & Agricultural ..34
      Intellectual Property Incentives...................................................25                          VAT on Property rules ...................................................................34
      Lessors ...........................................................................................25          Anti-Avoidance...............................................................................34
      Motor Vehicles ...............................................................................25               Reverse charge mechanism in the Construction Sector .........34
      Electric Cars...................................................................................25             Partial VAT Rebate on certain Company Cars ...........................34
      Taxis ................................................................................................25
      Sea Fishing Boats..........................................................................25                  PAY RELATED SOCIAL INSURANCE /
      Industrial Buildings.......................................................................26                  UNIVERSAL SOCIAL CHARGE ................................................35
      Time Limits ....................................................................................26             Contributions by Employees / USC Rates for 2019...................35
      Property Reliefs USC Surcharge.................................................26                              Contributions by Employees / USC Rates for 2018...................35
      Accelerated Capital Allowances Schemes.................................26                                      Employer contributions ................................................................35
      Tax Life of a Building .....................................................................26                 Universal Social Charge (“USC”).................................................35
      Deemed Balancing Event.............................................................26                          Exemptions from USC ..................................................................35
      Property Developers .....................................................................26                    Employees PRSI ............................................................................36
      Living City Incentive.......................................................................26                 PRSI.................................................................................................36
      Buildings used for childcare services or fitness                                                               Domicile Levy.................................................................................36
      centre for employees ....................................................................26
      Dealing in Land..............................................................................26                FARMERS TAXATION ...............................................................37
                                                                                                                     Leasing of farm land.....................................................................37
      CAPITAL GAINS TAX ................................................................27                           Farm Averaging .............................................................................37
      Rates...............................................................................................27         Transitional terms.........................................................................37
      Inflation Relief................................................................................28             Capital Acquisitions Tax ...............................................................37
      Retirement Relief ..........................................................................28                 Capital Gains Tax ..........................................................................38
      Exemptions and Relief..................................................................28                      Capital Gains Tax Relief for Farm Restructuring ......................38
      Property Relief...............................................................................29               VAT...................................................................................................38
      Entrepreneur Relief ......................................................................29                   Carbon Tax .....................................................................................38
      Revised entrepreneur Relief........................................................29                          Stock Relief ....................................................................................39
      Turf-Cutting Compensation Scheme..........................................29                                   Compulsory Disposal of Livestock..............................................39
      Payment and Compliance............................................................29                           Milk Quotas ....................................................................................39
      Debt forgiveness rules..................................................................29                     Stamp Duty - Leasing/Transfer of Land.....................................39
      Clearance Certificate ....................................................................29                   Young Trained Farmers ................................................................40
                                                                                                                     EU Single Farm Payment Entitlement........................................40
      CAPITAL ACQUISITIONS TAX ..................................................30
      Taxable Inheritance.......................................................................30                   MARITAL BREAKDOWN ..........................................................40
      Taxable Gift.....................................................................................30            Legally Enforceable Maintenance Agreements ........................40
      Thresholds for CAT........................................................................30                   Consequences of Election............................................................40
      Parent/Child Exemption ...............................................................30                       Social Welfare Benefits may be affected by election. ...............40
      Rates...............................................................................................30         Transfer of Assets - Divorced Persons .......................................40
      Dwelling House Exemption..........................................................30                           Transfer of Assets - Separated Spouses....................................40
      Agricultural Relief .........................................................................31                Capital Acquisitions Tax................................................................40
      Business Property Relief..............................................................31
      Payment and Compliance............................................................31                           CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS.............................................................40
      Interest Payments/Repayments..................................................31
      Surcharge for Late Returns .........................................................31                         GLOSSARY................................................................................40
      Surcharge for Understatement ...................................................31
      Joint Account Limits......................................................................31                   DISCLAIMER ............................................................................40
      Record Retention...........................................................................31

      DISCRETIONARY TRUST TAX / STAMP DUTY........................32
      Stamp Duty.....................................................................................32
      Non Residential Property.............................................................32
      Residential Property .....................................................................32
      Exemptions & Reliefs ...................................................................32
      Anti-Avoidance...............................................................................32
      Other Rates ....................................................................................32

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                                                                                                                       TAX BOOKLET 2020

      INCOME TAX RATES
      Bands of taxable income                     2020             2019           Tax Credits @ 20%                            2020           2019
      Single/Widowed                     €35,300 @ 20%    €35,300 @ 20%                                                           €              €
      (Without dependent Children)       Balance @ 40%    Balance @ 40%           Age credit                          Single     245            245
                                                                                                                    Married      490            490
      Single Parent/Widowed Parent       €39,300 @ 20%    €39,300 @ 20%           Blind person                        Single   1,650          1,650
      (With dependent children)          Balance @ 40%    Balance @ 40%                             Married one spouse blind   1,650          1,650
                                                                                                  Married both spouses blind   3,300          3,300
      Married Couple/Civil Partners     €44,300 @ 20% €43,300 @ 20%
      (one income)                       Balance @ 40%    Balance @ 40%          *Relief in respect of the cost of maintaining a guide dog (max €825 @
                                                                                 20% = €165) may be claimed under the heading of Health Expenses.
      Married Couple/Civil Partners* *€70,600 @ 20% *€70,600 @ 20%
      (two incomes)                    Balance @ 40% Balance @ 40%
                                                                                 Job Plus Scheme
      *In the case of a married couple with two incomes, the standard rate
                                                                                 Cash payments made to qualifying employers to offset the cost
      band is *€70,600 (made up of €44,300 plus an amount of €26,300 which
      may be transferred between spouses; if one spouse earns less than          of employing individuals who have been long term unemployed
      €26,300 there is a loss of some of the benefit of the higher band).        are exempt from income tax or corporation tax. The
                                                                                 Department of Social Protection will pay the incentive to the
                                                                                 employer monthly in arrears over a two-year period as follows:

                                                                                    €7,500 for each person over 25 years old recruited who
                                                                                    has been unemployed for more than 312 days in the last
      Income Exemption Limits
                                                                                    18 months.
      Aged 65 and over                                            2020
                                                                                    €10,000 for each person under 50 years old recruited who
      Single/Widowed                                           €18,000              has been unemployed for more than 936 days in the
      Married Couples                                          €36,000              previous 40 months.

      The relevant exemption limits are increased by €575 for each of               Separate rules apply for those under 25 or over 50 years old.
      the first two dependent children and by €830 for the third and
      any subsequent dependent children.                                         Earned Income Credit

                                                                                 The Earned Income Credit of €1,500 is available to individuals
                                                                                 earning self-employed, trading or professional income. For
                                                                                 company directors, the credit will apply to proprietary
                                                                                 directors as their earnings are not taken into account for the
       Tax Credits @ 20%                          2020            2019           purposes of the Employee (PAYE) Tax credit. Where an
                                                      €               €          individual has earned income which qualifies for Employee
       Single                                     1,650           1,650
                                                                                 (PAYE) Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, the
       Married / Civil Partners                                                  combined value of both tax credits cannot exceed €1,650.
       (Jointly assessed)                         3,300           3,300
       Earned income credit                       1,500           1,350          Relief for Long Term Unemployed Starting a Business
       Single person child carer credit
       (additional)                               1,650           1,650          Where an individual, who has been unemployed for 15 months
       Widowed person in year of                                                 and has been in receipt of jobseeker benefit, jobseeker
       bereavement/surviving civil partner        3,300           3,300          allowance or a one parent family credit, started a new
       Widowed person no children
                                                                                 business, he/she was entitled to claim relief from income tax
       (additional credit but not in the year
                                                                                 on the first two years of trading capped at a value of €40,000
       of bereavement)                             540              540
                                                                                 per annum. USC and PRSI continued to be payable.
       Additional tax Credits in years                                           The new business must have commenced during the period
       following bereavement                                                     25 October 2013 to 31 December 2018, but excluded trades
       Year 1                                    3,600           3,600           previously carried on by other people to which the qualifying
       Year 2                                    3,150           3,150           person has succeeded, or activities which were previously
                                                                                 carried on by other people.
       Year 3                                    2,700           2,700
       Year 4                                    2,250           2,250           The qualifying period was a period of 24 months from
       Year 5                                    1,800           1,800           commencement of business.
       Home carer’s credit                 Max   1,600           1,500           The relief was determined by a formula equal to the
       Incapacitated child                 Max   3,300           3,300           assessable profits or €40,000 if less. Where two businesses
       Dependent relative                  Max      70              70           were started the total relief was capped at €40,000.
       (where income of dependent
       relative is less than €15,060                                             The relief applied in priority to losses forward or capital
                                                                                 allowances. Pay and file obligations applied to the individual
       in 2020)
                                                                                 applying for the relief.

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                                                                                                                  TAX BOOKLET 2020

      Residence, Ordinary Residence and Domicile                                 An individual will be deemed present in the State if he/she is
                                                                                 present at any time during the day.
      An individual is liable to Irish Income Tax (“IT”) on his/her
      worldwide income provided he/she is resident and domiciled for             Remittance Basis for Non-Domiciled Individuals
      the tax year, subject to any specific relief under the relevant
      Double Taxation Agreement (“DTA”). To be resident an individual            Individuals domiciled outside Ireland are entitled to a
      must be present in the State for:                                          “remittance basis” of assessment in Ireland on investment
                                                                                 income and income from employment duties exercised outside
         183 days or more in a tax year, or                                      Ireland under a foreign contract - i.e. they are only subject to
                                                                                 Irish IT on income brought into the country.
         280 days in the current tax year and the preceding tax year,
         subject to a minimum of 30 days in each year.                           Where an individual who is entitled to the remittance basis has
                                                                                 transferred money to his/her spouse that individual will be
      Presence in the State at any time during the day will count                taxed on the transfer.
      towards determining residence for tax purposes.
                                                                                 Income:
      An individual is “ordinarily tax resident” if he/she is tax resident
      for three consecutive tax years; where they cease to be resident           Fully Taxable:
      they remain ordinarily resident for three years after the tax year
                                                                                 All Irish source income, including the Irish workdays of a
      of departure and can therefore remain taxable in Ireland. An
                                                                                 foreign employment and capital gains, are taxable in Ireland
      ordinarily tax resident individual is chargeable to Irish IT on
                                                                                 regardless of whether they are remitted or not.
      worldwide income with the exception of profits of a trade or
      profession carried on abroad. Foreign investment income                    Not Taxable:
      exceeding €3,810 in any tax year will be subject to Irish IT.
                                                                                 Foreign employment income (non-Irish workdays) and
      Domicile can be a difficult concept but broadly means the                  investment income are taxed only where remitted.
      country that an individual considers as his/her natural home.              Capital:

      An Irish resident or ordinarily resident and domiciled individual          Irish citizens who are not ordinarily resident but who are
      will also be liable to Irish Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) on their            resident are taxed on foreign capital gains.
      worldwide gains. This leaves individuals ceasing to be Irish
      resident exposed to Irish IT on investment income and Irish CGT            Non-Irish domiciled individuals are taxable on foreign capital
      for three years after the tax year of departure.                           gains only to the extent that they are remitted to Ireland. CGT
                                                                                 applies to all Irish specified assets regardless of residence,
      Despite the reference to three years in the paragraph above, an            which includes all Irish land and buildings as well as certain
      anti-avoidance provision imposes CGT on individuals who                    other assets such as mineral rights.
      dispose of shareholdings during a period of “temporary non-
      residence”, described as absences of less than five years.                 Special Assignment Relief Program “SARP”

      Split Year Treatment                                                       On 1 January 2012, a previous form of SARP was updated and a
                                                                                 new form introduced, initially for 2012 to 2014, which has since
      An individual who arrives in Ireland with the intention of                 been extended, most recently to 2022. The main conditions to
      becoming resident in the following tax year is liable to IT on             qualify for the new relief are that:
      employment income from the date of arrival. Similarly, a                   • The employee must be resident in Ireland (and not resident
      resident individual who leaves Ireland other than for a                      elsewhere) for 2012-2014 relief claims,
      temporary purpose is liable to IT on employment income up to
      the date of departure only. This “split year treatment” applies to         • The individual must have been a full-time employee of a
      employment income only.                                                      company incorporated and resident in a DTA State for six
                                                                                   months (2015-2022) or twelve months (2012-2014) prior to
      Relief from a liability to Irish IT may also arise under the                 arriving in the State.
      provisions of a DTA between Ireland and other State(s).
                                                                                 • For 2012-2014 duties must be performed in Ireland for 12
      Cross Border Workers                                                         months from the date of becoming resident, for 2015-2022
                                                                                   the requirement is to perform duties for 12 months from the
      Irish resident individuals employed abroad in a jurisdiction with            date of arrival.
      which Ireland has a DTA can exclude employment income
      earned abroad from Irish IT and the Universal Social Charge
      (“USC”). The employment abroad must be for a minimum
      period of 13 weeks and foreign tax must be paid on that income,
      and the duties must be performed wholly abroad. The individual
      must be present in Ireland for a minimum of one day a week
      during the period of qualifying employment. The relief does not
      apply to State or Semi-state employments.

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                                                                                                                  TAX BOOKLET 2020

      The relief is of value to new workers who come to or return to             Foreign Earnings Deduction (“FED”)
      Ireland, or returning workers who have been outside Ireland for
      at least five tax years. While a number of conditions apply in             A deduction is available for employees working temporarily
      order to obtain the relief, it is not limited to either foreign            overseas in the following countries (known as “relevant states”).
      employments or non-Irish domiciles.                                        From 2012, this means Brazil, Russia, India, China and South
                                                                                 Africa. From 2013, included are Algeria, Democratic Republic of
      Subject to conditions, the relief is available for employees               Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania.
      arriving in Ireland and is available for five consecutive tax years.       From 2015, additions are Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Saudi
                                                                                 Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand,
      The relief allows a basic salary and certain cash allowances to            Chile, Oman, Kuwait, Mexico and Malaysia. From 2017,
      be excluded from tax. The relevant amount is valued at 30% of              Colombia and Pakistan have been added.
      basic salary and allowances between upper (€1,000,000,
      previously €500,000) and lower (€75,000) thresholds.                       The deduction is subject to a maximum claim of €35,000 (i.e. a
                                                                                 tax refund of up to €14,000) and applies until 2022.
      Certain key items of compensation are excluded:
                                                                                 In order to receive this relief, the employee must spend at least
      • Benefits in kind including company cars and preferential loans           30 (60 in 2014, 40 in 2015 and 2016) days working in a relevant
                                                                                 state in a tax year or in a continuous 12-month period. These
      • Termination/ex-gratia payments                                           “qualifying days” must form part of a period of at least three
                                                                                 consecutive days including travelling time spent working in the
      • Bonus payments whether contractual or otherwise                          relevant state (previously four consecutive days excluding
                                                                                 travelling time).
      • Stock/equity options and
                                                                                 The deduction does not apply to employees paid out of the
      • Other share based remuneration                                           public revenue of the State e.g. civil servants, Gardaí and
                                                                                 members of the Defence Forces or individuals employed by any
      However, the above emoluments may be included in assessing                 board, authority or similar body established by or under statute.
      the relief once the minimum threshold has been established.
                                                                                 The deduction is calculated based on the amount of time spent
      The relief is only for IT and does not apply for USC or PRSI.              working in the relevant state and is calculated according to the
                                                                                 following formula:
      It is possible for employees and employers to obtain relief through
      the PAYE system so that the relief can have an immediate impact            D/E/F
      rather than waiting until the tax year has ended to make a claim.
      Employees making a claim automatically become chargeable                   D is the number of qualifying days in the tax year
      persons for the year of claim which means a tax filing requirement.        E is the net employment income in the tax year (including
      Employers will also have a reporting requirement to Revenue for              share awards and share option income but excluding
      various details about such employee claims, and for 2015- 2022               benefits in kind, termination payments and restrictive
      claims the employer is required to report within 90 days of the              covenants)
      individual arriving, in addition to the annual reporting.                  F is the number of days in the tax year that the individual
                                                                                   held the office or employment.
      Making a claim under the new SARP provisions means that a
      deduction is not claimable where another relief is claimed by the          An example of how this relief works is as follows.
      employee - e.g. Split Year Relief, Trans-border Relief, Foreign
      Earnings Deduction Relief, R&D Incentive and the limited                   An individual who is tax resident in Ireland spends 120
      remittance basis that still exists.                                        qualifying days working in Brazil. The employment income for
                                                                                 the year amounts to €100,000. The FED is calculated as follows.
         Tax Tip
                                                                                    €100,000 x 120
         In addition to the exclusion of a relevant amount from tax                             365
         an employer will also be able to bear the cost of certain                  Specified amount = €32,877
         items for a relevant employee on a tax free basis, such as:
                                                                                    Total employment earnings                  100,000
         One return trip for the employee and family to the                         Less FED                                 (€32,877)
         overseas country they are connected with; plus                             Taxable Income                              67,123

         Primary and/or post-primary school fees of up to €5,000
                                                                                 The deduction is claimed at the end of the tax year when
         per annum per child where the school has been approved
                                                                                 making an annual return of income for that year. It will not
         by the Minister for Education.
                                                                                 however be claimable where another relief is claimed by the
                                                                                 employee - e.g. Split Year Relief, Trans-border Relief, Special
                                                                                 Assignee Relief Programme, R&D Incentive and the limited
                                                                                 remittance basis that still exists.

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                                                                                                                            TAX BOOKLET 2020

      Seafarer Allowance                                                                 or from another body where the payment is in accordance with
                                                                                         similar law from another EU Member State (including educational
      An allowance of €6,350 from employment income is available to                      fees, certain medical expenses and other exceptional payments
      seafarers provided they are on an international voyage(s)- i.e. a                  where complex special needs arise). In addition payments for foster
      voyage beginning or ending in a port outside Ireland for at least                  children18 or over until the age of 21 or until they complete their full
      161 days in a tax year. This allowance cannot be claimed in                        time education who suffer from a disability are also exempted.
      conjunction with the split year treatment. The allowance is also
      available to crews of vessels servicing drilling rigs in Irish waters.          • Certain social welfare payments including payments to systematic
                                                                                        short term workers i.e. people who do three days on and two days
      Fisher tax credit                                                                 off work, or who work one week on and one week off.
                                                                                      • Lump sum payments to claimants who worked in the
      A tax credit of €1,270 is available each year from 2017 to 2021 to
                                                                                        Magdalene Laundries
      any person engaged in fishing on board a fishing vessel as long
      as they are Irish tax resident and spend at least 80 days at sea                • Annual allowance paid to Reserve Members of An Garda Síochána.
      actively engaged in sea-fishing. It is not possible to claim this
      credit and the seafarer allowance to shelter the same income.                   • Further education training allowance and grants payable by an
                                                                                        awarding authority under Student Support Act
      Sea- going Naval Personnel Credit
                                                                                      The exemption for IT for the categories of income described
      A tax credit of €1270 is available in 2020 to a permanent member                below also extends to CGT. However, it is a requirement that the
      of the Irish Naval Service who has spent 80 days at sea in the                  aggregate of the person’s income and gains must exceed 50% of
      immediately preceding year of assessment performing                             their total income and gains in order to be exempted. The
      employment duties. It is not possible to claim this credit and avail            relevant categories of income and now gains are as follows:
      of the Seafarer allowance or Fisher Tax credit at the same time.                • Income and gains derived from the investment of certain
                                                                                        compensation payments received by permanently
      Tax Exemptions                                                                    incapacitated individuals or a trust established for the
                                                                                        benefit of one or more such individuals.
      The following are exempt from IT provided specific conditions
      are satisfied:                                                                  • Income and gains derived from the investment of payments
                                                                                        made to Hepatitis C and HIV victims.
      • Artists resident in a Member State or EEA Jurisdiction (prior
        to 2015 the relief was restricted to Irish resident artists) who              • Income and gains from compensation payments made to
        produce original work that has cultural and artistic merit,                     thalidomide children and the income derived from the
        subject to a €50,000 limit.                                                     investment of such payments.

      • Charities - investment and certain trade income                               • Compensation for certain living donors to cover compensation
                                                                                        for expenses and loss of income relating to donations.
      • Awards made by the Hepatitis C Tribunal or a comparable
        overseas scheme, income arising on monies received from                       • The water conservation grant and fuel grants are exempt
        settlement of a civil action by a totally incapacitated individual, and         from IT and USC.
        income arising on monies received by permanently incapacitated
        individuals for damages following assessment by the Personal                  Maternity Benefit
        Injuries Assessment Board. In addition, the return arising from
        the investment of these monies is also exempt provided that                   Maternity benefit, adoptive benefit and health and safety benefit
        return exceeds 50% of the individual’s total income and gains.                payments are treated as taxable income.

      • Income arising from compensation payments made under                          Child minding relief
        an employment law enacted in accordance with a decision of
        one of the relevant bodies listed below or made in                            Child minding relief is available where an individual minds up to
        accordance with a mediation process:                                          three children (excluding their own children) in their own home. No
                                                                                      tax will be payable on the childminding earnings received, provided
             -   The Rights Commissioner                                              the amount is not more than €15,000 per annum. If the childminding
             -   The Director of Equality Investigations                              income exceeds this, the total amount will be taxable as normal
             -   The Employment Appeals Tribunal                                      under self-assessment. The annual minimum PRSI contribution for
             -   The Labour Court                                                     self-employed individuals of €500 per annum is payable.
             -   The Circuit Court
             -   The Workplace Relations Commission                                   Mortgage Interest Relief
             -   The District Court
      • Sports organisations                                                          Mortgage interest relief on loans taken out after 1 January 2013
                                                                                      has been abolished. Mortgage interest relief for loans taken out
      • Income from woodlands                                                         between 2004 and 2012 was due to expire on 31 December
                                                                                      2017. That date has been extended to 31 December 2020 on a
      • Income received by Mná Tí in the Gaeltacht (Sceim na                          tapered basis, meaning that the relief for 2018, 2019 and 2020
        bhFoghlaimeoirí)                                                              will be 75%, 50% and 25% respectively of the relief available in
                                                                                      2017 for loans taken out between 2004 and 2012.
      • Income received by foster parents from the Health Service Executive

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                                                                                                                          TAX BOOKLET 2020

      Home Renovation Incentive (“HRI”)                                              a person to take care of an incapacitated family member. The
                                                                                     carer may be employed on an individual basis, or through an
      The HRI scheme provides for tax relief for homeowners by way                   employment agency. The maximum allowance is €75,000 per
      of an income tax credit at 13.5% of qualifying expenditure on                  annum for each incapacitated individual. The allowance is
      repair, renovation or improvements carried out to the                          available at the marginal rate of tax. The allowance will be granted
      homeowner’s main home by qualifying contractors. Relief may                    in the first year that the individual becomes incapacitated.
      be claimed on qualifying expenditure over €4,405 before VAT
      subject to a maximum spend of €30,000.                                         Covenants

      The lowest claim amount is €595 ((€4,405@13.5%) and the                        Covenants to permanently incapacitated adults are fully tax
      highest is €4,050 (€30,000@13.5%).                                             deductible. Covenants to a permanently incapacitated minor child are
                                                                                     fully tax deductible if paid by a person other than a parent. Covenants
      The works may be phased, and multiple payments to different                    to individuals aged 65 or over who are not incapacitated are deductible
      contractors are allowed. Qualifying works must be carried out                  subject to a 5% limit of the covenanters’ total income. If the
      on or after 25 October 2013 and up to 31 December 2018.                        covenanter is liable to tax at the higher rate he or she will receive tax
                                                                                     relief at the difference between the standard rate and higher rate.
      The credit is payable over two years following the year in which               There is no tax benefit to a covenanter who pays tax at the standard
      the work is undertaken. Unused tax credits may be carried                      rate. A covenantee whose total income (including the income from
      forward to the next tax year.                                                  the covenant) is less than the exemption limit qualifies for a refund of
                                                                                     tax at the standard rate of tax deducted by the covenanter.
         Tax Tip
                                                                                     Medical Insurance
         Where planning permission is granted before 31
         December 2018 work carried out before 31 March 2019                         Tax relief on medical insurance premiums is granted at source and is
         will be deemed to have been incurred in 2018 for the                        given as a direct reduction in premiums. Relief is based on a standard
         purpose of the relief.                                                      rate (20%) deduction, and is granted on a current year basis.

      Homeowners must be LPT compliant. Claims may be made for costs                 The amount of relief is restricted to €1,000 for an individual and
      at the 13.5% rate of tax and it excludes anything subject to VAT at 23%.       €500 for a child (under 18 or under 23 in full time education). An
                                                                                     age-related credit that was available up to 1 January 2013 has
      Contractors must be registered for VAT and RCT compliant. The                  been replaced with a risk equalisation credit.
      HRI scheme has been extended to Irish rental properties where
      properties are refurbished and let to tenants under leases                     Dental Insurance
      registered with the Private Rental Tenancies Board (PRTB) and
      occupied within six months of the works being carried out.                     Tax relief at the standard rate (20%) is available in respect of dental
                                                                                     insurance premiums taken out for non-routine dental treatment.
      There are special provisions in place that allow for the conversion
      of one premises to two rental units. The effect of this is to allow            Medical Expenses
      the maximum claim of €4,050, to apply to each unit, although the
      minimum spend of €5,000 equally applies to each unit.                          Tax relief for un-reimbursed medical expenses incurred on
                                                                                     behalf of a taxpayer and his family (including “dependents”),
      In Finance Act 2016, HRI was extended to works done by tenants/                may be claimed against the taxpayer’s income tax liability.
      occupants of properties owned/rented by a housing authority.                   Medical expenses include:

      Home Carer Credit                                                              • Doctor/hospital care and prescription medicines

      A credit of €1,600 is available for married couples jointly                    • Payments to Revenue approved nursing homes for
      assessed, where only one spouse is working and the other                         dependants
      cares for children (with an entitlement to social welfare child
      benefit), individuals over the age of 65, or incapacitated                     • Physiotherapy
      individuals in their home. Where the carer’s income exceeds
      €10,400 in a year, no credit will be available.                                • Non-routine dental and ophthalmic expenses

      Where the carer’s income exceeds €7,200, the tax credit is                     • Routine maternity care including caesarean sections
      reduced by one half of the amount of the excess over €7,200
      (subject to a maximum of €1,600).                                              • Qualifying medical expenses incurred on behalf of a
                                                                                       dependent relative (which includes any individual over the
      The credit is neither available to married couples taxed as                      age of 65 or permanently incapacitated individuals whether
      single persons nor to married couples with a combined                            they are relatives or not).
      income of €44,300 who claimed the increased standard rate
      tax band for dual income couples.                                              Relief is granted by way of a tax credit at the standard rate of
                                                                                     tax, except in the case of nursing home expenses which is
      Carer Allowance                                                                granted by way of an allowance at the taxpayer’s marginal rate
                                                                                     of tax. A form MED2 should be completed in respect of non-
      An individual can claim an allowance where he/she has to employ                routine dental expenses (this can be obtained from the dentist).

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                                                                                                                         TAX BOOKLET 2020

      Certain “non-essential” cosmetic surgery work does not qualify                  Following a change in Finance Act 2018, Revenue has confirmed
      for relief. Such work qualifies for relief only where it is provided for        their view that income from short-term lettings sourced through
      a physical deformity arising as a result of a congenital                        online accommodation websites such as Airbnb does not fall
      abnormality, a personal injury, or a disfiguring disease.                       within the rent-a-room rules. In fact, they confirm such income is
                                                                                      not rental income but trading or miscellaneous income. The
      Relief for hospital stays are restricted to expenses necessarily incurred       room must be used by the occupant for more than 28 consecutive
      in connection with the services of a medical practitioner, or to                days unless used for respite care, exchange students or
      diagnostic procedures carried out on advice of a medical practitioner.          occupants in full/part time education.

      Relief for nursing home fees qualify for relief provided the                    Qualifying room rentals will not affect entitlements to claim
      nursing home concerned provides qualifying nursing care on                      mortgage interest relief. It will also not affect CGT PPR relief on
      site on a 24 hour per day basis. Private contributions towards                  the disposal of the dwelling, and will not lead to a stamp duty
      the “Fair Deal” scheme for nursing homes qualify for relief.                    clawback. The relief will not apply where the letting is between
                                                                                      connected parties and rent relief is being claimed.
      Permanent Health Insurance
                                                                                      The relief will not be available where the person in receipt of the
      Premiums paid under approved permanent health insurance                         income is an employee of the person making the payment.
      (PHI) schemes are tax deductible. The deduction cannot exceed
      10% of the individual’s total income. Relief is granted as a                       Tip:
      deduction against total income and is effectively relieved at the
                                                                                         Consider keeping rental income below the €14,000
      marginal rate of tax. Any benefits received are taxable and
                                                                                         threshold if seeking to claim this exemption.
      therefore subject to PAYE.
                                                                                      Rent Relief for Private Accommodation
      Third Level College Fees
                                                                                      Rent paid in a tax year for private residential accommodation
      Tax relief is available at the standard rate for the cost of fees paid
                                                                                      will no longer qualify for relief from 1 January 2018.
      for approved courses in approved colleges. In addition to full-time
      courses it includes fees paid for part-time courses on behalf of
                                                                                      High Earner Restriction
      students who do not have a third level qualification. The relief also
      applies to post graduate fees paid for third level education in private
                                                                                      Certain tax breaks available to high income earners are restricted
      and public funded third level colleges in non-EU Member States.
                                                                                      with a tapering restriction applying to individuals with income in
      Tax relief for undergraduate fees is also allowable for accredited
                                                                                      excess of €125,000 to ensure a minimum effective IT rate of 30%.
      private third level colleges in EU Member States. Tax relief is
      available for repeat years, for individuals taking more than one                Taxable income is calculated by restricting qualifying
      course and for individuals already holding a third level qualification.         deductions to 20% of the taxable amount.
      Tax relief is available for tuition fees and student contributions but
      does not apply to administration fees, exam fees or registration                If the individual’s income is either less than €125,000 or the reliefs
      fees. An amount of fees is disregarded for relief as follows:                   claimed are less than €80,000, the restriction will not apply.

        Year            Full Time Courses           Part Time Courses                 There is a full restriction on income in excess of €400,000.
        2020                       €3,000                      €1,500                 Where there is a claim for specified reliefs in excess of €80,000,
                                                                                      the amount that may be claimed is limited to the greater of
                                                                                      €80,000 or 20% of the adjusted income.
      Where families have two or more children in third level education
      on a full-time basis and where both are liable to the student                   A tapering relief applies to income between €125,000 and €400,000.
      contribution charge, tax relief at 20% will be available on the
      aggregate paid above the disregarded amount. The current                        The following items specifically need to be considered:
      student contribution charge is €2,000. The maximum relief
      available is €7,000. Any repayment of fees must be adjusted for.                • Calculation of double taxation relief is applied before the
                                                                                        relief can be claimed.
      Training Course Fees
                                                                                      • Credits for any reliefs or deductions are given before the
      Relief is available for fees between €317 and €1,270 paid in                      application of the restriction (but after the carry forward of
      respect of Information Technology and Foreign Language courses,                   excess reliefs from prior periods).
      which are approved by Solas. These courses must be at least two
      years in duration and must not be a postgraduate course. This                   • The effect of the restriction is to disapply the age limit for
      relief does not apply to payments made on behalf of dependents.                   income tax.

                                                                                      There was a temporary removal of the Employment and Investment
      Rent-a-Room Scheme                                                              Incentive scheme (“EII”) from the high earners restriction for share
                                                                                      subscriptions made between 16 October 2013 and 31 December
      Where a room in a person’s principal private residence (“PPR”) is               2016. This was made permanent from 1 January 2017.
      let as residential accommodation and the gross annual rental
      income is less than €14,000 per annum, this rental income is                    From 1 January 2016 the income tax exemption for profits derived
      exempt from tax. Where it exceeds €14,000 the rent is taxable in                from the management of woodlands in the State is not treated as
      full. The income is also disregarded for PRSI and USC purposes.                 a specified relief for the purposes of the high earner restriction.

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                                                                                                                       TAX BOOKLET 2020

      SELF ASSESSMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS
      Self-Assessment - Pay and File                                              Tip: The 2019 tax return is due to be filed by 31 October
                                                                                  2020; where your total income for 2020 is less than that
      On 31 October each year, a self-employed individual/company                 in 2019, consider basing your preliminary tax payment
      director, or a PAYE worker with untaxed non-PAYE income is                  on your 2019 estimated liability.
      required to:
                                                                               Penalties
      1. File his/her Income Tax return for the previous calendar
         year;                                                                 Penalties will apply to any returns filed late.

      2. Pay the balance of tax for the previous calendar year;                Joint Assessment

      3. Pay preliminary tax payment for the current calendar year; and        Revenue may recover tax not paid within 28 days from the
                                                                               spouse who was not assessed. This is limited to the amount of
      4. Submit a tax computation at the time of filing the return             unpaid tax referable to that spouse’s income.

      Payment and Compliance                                                   Pay and File Summary

      The self-assessment system applies to individuals with non-              The following is a summary of pay and file dates for the
      PAYE income and to all directors controlling 15% or more of the          year 2020
      share capital of a company (even if their entire income is subject
      to PAYE).                                                                  File tax return for 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 October 2020
                                                                                 Pay balance of tax for 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 October 2020
      The definition of a “chargeable person” for self-assessment
      purposes includes PAYE taxpayers with non-PAYE income                      Online Pay & File date for
      where the non-PAYE income is not taken into account under the              2019 Tax Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 November 2020
      PAYE system.
                                                                                 Pay preliminary tax for 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . .31 October 2020
      The “Pay and File” system places an obligation on the individual           Online Pay & File
      to file a return, calculate the tax liability, submit a tax                date for 2020 Preliminary Tax . . . . . . . . .12 November 202
      computation and pay the tax due. Returns for income arising in
      the year ended 31 December 2019 must be filed on or before 31              Pay Capital Gains Tax
      October 2020 to avoid a surcharge. The surcharge amounts to                  -1 December to 31 December 2019 . . .31 January 2020
      5% of the amount of tax payable for the period subject to a                  -1 January to 30 November 2020 . . .15 December 2020
      maximum surcharge of €12,695 where the return is filed within
      two months of the deadline. Otherwise if the return is filed more
      than two months after the deadline, a surcharge of 10% is
      imposed subject to a maximum of €63,485.                                 Information included in Return

      Preliminary tax due for the tax year 2020 must be paid by 31             Taxpayers are required to disclose information in relation to any
      October 2020 if interest charges of .0219% per day are to be             reliefs claimed in their annual tax return; the reliefs to be
      avoided. The tax paid must represent 90% of the individual’s             detailed are highlighted on the return forms. This applies to
      actual liability for 2020 or 100% of the final liability for 2019        individuals, both self-employed and employees, and also to
      (excluding EII relief).                                                  companies.

      Alternatively, for the tax year 2020, a taxpayer can elect to make       Failure to provide the relevant information may result in a
      a preliminary tax payment equal to 105% of the ultimate liability        penalty of €950, as well as a surcharge of:
      for 2018 (the pre-preceding year), provided a liability arose in
      that year. This option is only available to taxpayers that pay by        5% of the tax due subject to a maximum of €12,695 where the
      direct debit in equal monthly instalments. The final instalment          return in filed within two months of the filing deadline.
      is payable in December 2020. Where a taxpayer is paying by
      direct debit for the first time, payment can be made by way of a         10% of the tax due subject to a maximum of €63,458 where the
      minimum of three equal instalments and, during the following             return is filed more than two months after the filing deadline.
      year, by way of eight equal instalments.
                                                                               Mandatory Reporting
      Where a repayment is made due to a Revenue error in applying
      the legislation, interest will be repaid from the date the tax was       Certain transactions which have the main benefit of obtaining a
      paid to the date of repayment; otherwise no repayment is due.            tax advantage are reportable to Revenue.
      Refunds of overpayments of preliminary tax carry interest of
      0.011% per day.

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